US Open Cup: Timbers 1 – Sounders 1

Portland Timbers earned the most bitter of defeats against their arch-rival Seattle Sounders on Wednesday night. After 120 minutes of solid football, the Timbers were undone by penalty kicks, having two saved and losing 4-3. Kasey Keller easily saved from both Ryan Pore and Ross Smith and Zach Scott slotted home the final attempt from the spot to send Seattle to the quarterfinals of the US Open Cup. Young Bright Dike scored yet again for the Timbers, equalizing after Nate Jaqua’s headed opener.

For the second consecutive season, PGE Park was sold out for a US Open Cup match against the Sounders. But once again the Timbers fell behind early against their rivals to the north. Jaqua’s header came after just 13 minutes and brought back memories of the 2009 defeat. But instead of allowing that second goal, the Timbers replied with a neat goal of their own, compliments again of Dike. His fifth goal in three games reinvigorated the crowd and put the two clubs back on level terms. Both sides had decent chances on goal throughout the second half and extra-time, but there was a feeling of inevitability about penalties being the difference.

To his credit, manager Gavin Wilkinson poured on offensive substitutes late in regular time and into extra-time, hoping for a late winner. By the 120th minute the Timbers featured Dike, Pore, Mandjou Keita and Doug DeMartin up front. Yet all those forwards were not enough to crack Keller in the Seattle goal. Instead the Timbers entered the penalty shoot-out in the worst possible way, by sending Pore up to take the most predictable of penalties and give the Sounders an immediate advantage. Portland did their best to climb back into the shoot-out, but when Smith’s soft shot was saved, it was all over for the Timbers.

Crashing out of the Open Cup is disappointing for Portland, particularly because it again came at the hands of Seattle. But the Timbers played inspired defense and played possession much better than in any game apart from the Boca Juniors friendly. It does appear that Portland play up and down to their competition in this final season at the second division level. Given Wilkinson’s penchant for putting players on trial this season and the continuous changes in line-up and even formation, it is hardly surprising that even the best team performance of the season simply was not good enough.

Category: Portland Timbers, US Open Cup